Like a stylish breeze blowing in from Napa or Provence, for years the most popular color on residential walls was not a color at all. Light, white surfaces dominated home décor, promising relaxed, airy spaces and stark elegance.

"That gray-beige look is very beautiful, very Belgian-French. It's stunning, but it's never going to be anything exciting," said Houston interior designer Kristina Wilson of Kristina Wilson Design.

There's something to be said for pretty and pristine, but lately when it comes to paint, designers are crossing over to the dark side. Deep, saturated colors abound, from muted gray and navy to earthy green and burgundy.

Sue Kim, the color strategist at Valspar, says that those hues have been gaining ground in homes, and will continue to flourish in 2014.

"Lately, people are less concerned about space and more concerned about mood," Kim said. "A lot of deeper, richer shades are more thoughtful and grounding."

According to David Bromstead, the host of HGTV's "Color Splash," the embrace of these somber-yet-sophisticated hues isn't just a matter of people reacting to years of white or following fashion trends.

"A rich, saturated color is a nice change of pace, and it's a 180-degree turn from what we were seeing a couple years ago," said Bromstead. "It's based on what's going on in the world economically and politically. There's more stability. Somber colors come back because people can handle it."

Rich shades also serve as the perfect background foil for trends in home furnishings, specifically the rise of sleek, lacquered finishes; the textural appeal of reclaimed woods; and the popularity of gold and brass furnishings and fixtures.

"Antique brass shows up so beautifully against dark grays and dark blues. The warmth of the brass really contrasts beautifully with the cooler colors," said Marie Flanigan of Marie Flanigan Interiors in Houston.

Still, dark walls aren't a perfect fit for every room. The commonly expressed fear that dark colors will make a room look smaller is not unfounded, as darker colors absorb more light.

In small spaces, however, the intensity of the color can really distinguish exactly how far apart four walls are. That's one reason that designers recommend trying out a bold color in a powder room. It's also ideal because a guest bathroom is set apart from other spaces - and it's a room that doesn't get a lot of everyday use, which could leave the homeowner overwhelmed by the color.

Other spaces that Kim recommends for color experimentation include the master bathroom, perfect for soothing cool tones, and rooms meant for personal use, such as a study or a master closet. Bromstead favors choosing a bold tone for the dining room, as a part of the house designed to entertain and impress guests.

Even in larger, more open spaces, dark tones can be used to flatter a room's proportions.

"I don't know where people got the idea that white walls are the only way to make a room look big," said Flanigan. "I like to pair a dark wall with a contrasting drape to bring attention to the height of a room - and a light or white ceiling with a darker wall can increase the impression of height in a space. Even a dark trim with a light wall is fun way to change up the style."

To keep dark tones from giving off a goth vibe, designers stress the importance of layering and adding in light or white tones for contrast and sticking to matte or flat paints, which are softer on the eye.

"I always ask myself, 'If we took a black and white photo of this room, is it still interesting?' " said Wilson. "It's about having enough black and enough white spread across the room in different proportions. You have to have a balance, which is true of any element of design."